Monday, May 18, 2015

Monday Meme Spotlight: Book Worlds

Have you ever been so immersed in a book that you forgot it wasn't real? Have you ever found yourself surprised because you reached the last page and you don't know how it happened? Have you ever been awake until the early morning hours because you had to know what happened? I have. It's a great feeling, isn't it? To know that there are writers out there who can so fully tug at your heart and really make you want to live in the world they created. Here are a few books that made that happen for me.

1. The Wrath and the Dawn- Renee Ahdieh: This book came out very recently. The moment I saw the cover, I felt that it was something special, and I was right- that book sucked me in and didn't let me go until I had turned the last page. And then I yelled at it, because it wasn't supposed to end so soon. I loved everything about it- the characters were all so engaging, the settings were elegantly described, and the writing was so beautiful that I couldn't breathe during some of the more intense scenes. I like a lot of books, I do. But this one surpassed them all. As soon as I put it down, I wanted to turn it back over and read it again, just like that (but it was past midnight, so I only read a few of my favorite parts again before I fell asleep). If you would like to be entranced by an elegant retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, click this link.

2. The Winner's Curse- Marie Rutkoski: This is a novel that I affectionately call a time-melter. The reason for that is because the first time I picked it up to read a few chapters, I read for what I thought was ten minutes and turned out to be almost forty-five. The world was reminiscent of a Roman empire, and the interwoven stories made for an intriguing, exceptional read. Rutkoski's writing sweeps over you in original, beautiful descriptions of the opulence and decadence that surrounds Kestrel (the main character) at every turn, as well as the discontent of the Herrani slaves and their plans for revolt. You can get it here.

3. Some Quiet Place- Kelsey Sutton: Admittedly, this book takes place in the present, with one small exception- the main character does not feel emotions, but sees them, as well as elements like Fog, Mist, Nightmare, etc., as physical manifestations. People. And she can interact with them, too- like Fear. Fear is one of her best friends, in a strange twisted way. He's fascinated with why she can't feel his influence, and he makes it his mission to find out why. The novel, although short, grabs you and shakes you and makes you want to see emotions as well, and then leaves you with a new perspective after the last page. If you think it sounds interesting, you can put a hold on a library copy by clicking right here.

These are just three of the books that I've found to totally drown you in their engaging detail, creative worlds, and unique perspectives. What books do that for you?